Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on the process FDA is undertaking for reviewing and modernizing the agency’s standards of identity for dairy products (FDA Statement)

As reported on this blog, FDA held a public meeting on July 26, 2018 to discuss the FDA’s Nutrition Innovation Strategy (NIS), which promotes public health through efforts to empower consumers to make better and more informed decisions about their diets and health, foster the development of healthier food options, and expand the opportunities to use nutrition to reduce morbidity and mortality due to chronic disease. FDA’s plans to possibly limit use of the term ‘milk’ in labeling plant-based products were a prominent feature of the NIS meeting.

A Press Release from FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb immediately following the NIS meeting characterizes it as the first step in the process of modernizing FDA’s standards of identity by gathering stakeholder feedback. While focusing on milk, Dr. Gottlieb’s statement also mentions the need for potentially updating nearly 300 other standards of identity as well.

FDA’s next step – possibly coming by late summer or early fall – will be to release a specific set of questions pertaining to consumer awareness and understanding of the use of milk and other dairy terms on plant-based alternatives. Depending upon the feedback received, FDA could then potentially revisit its policy of not enforcing the standard of identity for milk as it pertains to plant-based beverages.